Removable closure



INVENTORS Nov. 7, 1967 c. H. HOGAN ETAL REMOVABLE CLOSURE Filed Dec.

TLEL

5.0 M A a. W H? m A 2 H Y fl United States Patent Ofiice 3,351,226 Fatented Nov. 7, 1967 3,351,226 REMOVABLE CLOSURE Clark H. Hogan, and Harry R. Packard, Oklahoma City, Okla, assignors to H & E Aircraft Company, Oklahoma City, Okla, a corporation of Oklahoma Filed Dec. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 514,169 9 Claims. (Cl. 22025) This invention relates generally to improved, removable closure means for temporarily closing apertures in containers or the like. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this invention relates to an improved, removable closure device for temporarily closing the filling opening in an aircraft fuel tank.

Generally, this invention provides an improved closure means comprising: a body member having first and second faces and including spaced lugs on the first face, radially spaced recesses in the first face, and a central bore extending therethrough intersecting the faces; a shaft movably disposed in the bore; a locking plate operably connected with the shaft, the locking plate having radially extending finger portions thereon arranged to be aligned with the lugs; a spring member operably connected with the shaft in engagement with the locking plate and the first face on the body member, the spring member having protuberances thereon engaging the body member in the recesses to determine the rotational position of the spring member and locking plate relative to the body member; and, actuating means connected with the shaft adjacent the second face, the actuating means being rotatable with the shaft and pivotal relative thereto and engaging the second face. When in a first pivotal position, the actuating means holds the locking plate away from the body member and, when in a second pivotal position, the actuating means moves the locking plate relatively toward the body member.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved closure device that can be quickly and easily attached to and removed from the filling opening in fuel tanks or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure device that safely vents positive pressure present in the fuel tank while the closure device remains locked to the tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved closure device that etfectively and safely vents the tank to atmospheric pressure should a partial vacuum be present in the tank, whereby the closure device can be easily removed therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure device that is positively retained in the open and closed positions.

One other object of the invention is to provide an improved closure device that can be quickly, easily and economically manufactured.

The foregoing and additional objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts in all views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view, partly in cross section, of a closure device constructed in accordance with the invention located in an aperture or filling opening of a container;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the closure device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the various parts of the closure device in another operating position.

Referring to the drawing and to FIG. 1 in particular, shown therein and generally designated by the reference figurations of the recess character 10 is a portion of a container having an aperture 12 extending therethrough. As may be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the aperture 12 is surrounded by a frusto-conical sealing surface 14 that is provided at its innermost end with an inwardly projecting flange 16. As illustrated in FIG. 1 (in dash lines) and in the lower portion of FIG. 3, the flange 16 is provided with three radially spaced notches 18 adjacent the aperture 12.

A closure member, generally designated by the reference character 20, is illustrated in the various figures as being located in the aperture 12 of the container 10. The closure member 20 includes a body member 22 having an outer face 24 and an inner face 26 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). An outer periphery 28 on the body member 22 has a frusto-conical configuration complementary to the frustoconical sealing surface 14 of the container 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, an O-ring seal 30 is disposed in an annular groove 32 formed in the periphery 28 of the body member 22. The groove 32 is undercut to provide an annular lip 34 that aids in retaining the O-ring 30 in the annular groove 32. The O-ring seal 30 sealingly engages the valve body 22 and the sealing surface 14 of the container 10, forming a fluid-tight seal therebetween when the closure member 20 is located in the aperture 12 and locked to the container 10 as will be described.

A plurality of lugs 36 project from the inner face 26 of the body member 22. The lugs 36 are arranged to be disposed in the notches 18 formed in the flange 16 of the container 10 as illustrated most clearly in FIG. 2. When inserted therein, the lugs 36 engage the flange 16 to prevent rotational movement of the body member 22 relative to the container 10.

Two sets of radially spaced recesses are located in the inner face 26 of the body member 22. As shown in FIG. 2, each of one set of recesses is designated by the reference character 38 and each recess of the second set of recesses is designated by the reference character 40. The purpose of the recesses 38 and 40 will be described more fully hereinafter.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 a relatively large recess 41 is provided in the outer face 24 of the body member 22. The recess 41 is configured to receive a complementary shaped actuating handle 42. The complementary con- 41 and handle 42 prevent the rotational movement of the handle 42 when it is disposed in the recess 41 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The handle 42 includes a bifurcated portion 46 that extends on each side of a shaft 48 and is pivotally connected to the shaft 48 by a pivot pin 50.

The handle 42 also includes an access notch 52 whereby the handle 42 can be lifted from the recess 41 and pivoted about the pin 50 relative to the shaft 48 from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4. When the handle 42 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 3, it can be seen that a face 54 on the handle 42 lies in substantially the same plane as the outer face 24 of the body member '22. Thus, the outer surface of the closure member 20 is relatively smooth to avoid air friction or drag when the closure member 20 is used on aircraft. 7

The pivot pin 50 extends through the handle 42 pro viding a pivotal point for the handle 42 on the shaft 48 that is located closer to the end surface 56 on the handle 42 than to an inner face 58 (see FIG. 3) thereon. The purpose of locating the pivot pin 50 in such a position will become more apparent as the following description proceeds.

' The shaft 48 extends through a washer 60 thatis disposed between the handle 42 and the valve body 22. The washer 60 is provided for the purpose of reducing friction during rotation of the handle 42. The shaft 48 also extends through a centrally located bore 62 in the body a member 22. As may be seen most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, an O-ring 64 is disposed in a counterbore 66 formed in the body member 22 adjacent the inner face 26 thereof.

The shaft 48 includes a cylindrical portion 68 that is disposed in the body member 22, an enlarged shank 70 that forms a shoulder 72 facing the body member 22, and a threaded portion that is in threaded engagement with a nut 74. To prevent the inadvertent rotation of the nut 74 relative to the shaft 48 during operation of the closure member 20, a pin 76 is provided that extends through and connects the nut 74 with the shaft 48.

A locking plate 78 is located on the shaft 48 between the nut 74 and the body member 22. The locking plate 78 is provided with a central aperture that is suitably configured to receive the shank portion 70 of the shaft 48. If the shank portion 70 is rectangular as illustrated, the aperture in the locking plate 78 will also be rectan lar. However, the precise configuration is unimportant except that it be adapted to engage the shank portion 70 whereby the locking plate 78 will rotate with the shaft 48.

As may be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the locking plate 78 includes three spaced, radially extending finger portions 80 that have an outer dimension greater than the diameter of the aperture 12 in the container 10. The finger portions 80 are sufficiently sized and spaced to pass through the notches 18 in the container 18. It will be noted that an outer diameter 82 of the locking plate 78 is smaller than the diameter of the aperture 12 in the container 10, whereby the locking plate 78 can pass through the aperture 12 when the finger portions 80 are aligned with the notches 18.

A spring member 84 is disposed on the shank portion 70 of the shaft 48 and located between the locking plate 78 and the inner face 26 of the body member 22. The configuration of the spring member 84 may be most clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, the outline of the spring member 84 is shown in dotted lines.

The spring member 84 includes a central portion 86 encircling the shank portion 70 of the shaft 48 and three radially extending portions 88 (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the radially extending portions 88 are deformed relatively toward the inner face 26 of the body member 22.

Each of the radially extending portions 88 is provided with a protuberance 90 that projects toward the body member 22. As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the radially extending portions 88 are spaced so that the protuberances 90 are disposed in either the recesses 38 or the recesses 40.

The spring member 84 is formed so that the central portion 86 is in engagement with the locking plate 78 and the radially extending portions 88 engage the inner face 26 of the body member 22. Since the spring member 84 is constructed from a resilient material, such as spring steel, a biasing force is exerted on the locking plate 78 by the spring member 84 tending to force the locking plate 78 relatively away from the body member 22.

Operation Assuming that the closure member 20 is installed in the container and locked therein as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it can be seen that the finger portions 80 on the locking plate 78 are disposed relatively below and in engagement with the flange 16 on the container 10. The O-ring seal 30 is in sealing engagement with the sealing surface 14 and the handle 42 is disposed in the 4 the aperture 12 is completely closed by the closure member 20.

To remove the closure member 20 from the container 10, the handle 42 is pivoted about the pivot pin 50 out of the recess 41, bringing the end surfaces 56 on the handle 42 into alignment with the body member 22 in the recess 41. As previously mentioned, the pivot pin 50 r is located closer to the end surfaces 56 than to the inner face 58 of the handle 42. Thus, the spring member 84 forces the locking plate 78 relatively away from the body member 22 and away from the flange 16 of the container 10 until the end surfaces 56 engage the body member 22.

With the handle 42 pivoted to the position described, the closure member 20 will, if a positive pressure exists in the container 10, more relatively outwardly, that is, away from the container 10. The O-ring seal 30 is moved out of engagement with the sealing surface 14, permitting the release of the pressure. The closure member 20 cannot be blown from the container 10 by the positive pressure due to the engagement of the finger portions 80 of the locking plate 78 with the flange 16 after the closure member 20 has moved a very small distance.

If the interior of the container 10 is at a pressure less than the .presure outside the container 10, pivoting the handle 42 to the position previously described moves the shoulder 72 on the shaft 48 relatively away from the O-ring seal 64. When this occurs, the O-ring seal 64 is no longer effective as a seal between the body member 22 and the shaft 48, permitting air to flow therebetween into the container 10 until the interior pressure is equal to the outside pressure. Thus, the structure described pro vides for the safe release of positive pressure contained within the container 10 prior to unlocking the closuremember 20 and also provides for venting the interior of the container 10 to atmosphere so that the closure member 20 can be removed therefrom in the event that the pressure within the container 10 is lower than atmos pheric.

The closure member 20 is unlocked from the container 10 by rotating the handle 42 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4. As the handle 42 is rotated, the shaft 48 rotates therewith, moving the locking plate 78 into a position wherein the finger portions 80 are aligned with the notches 18 in the flange 16 and with the lugs 36 on the body member 22. Also, the spring member 82 is rotatedby the shaft 48 until the protuberances thereon engage the recesses 38 located in the inner face 26 of the body member 22. The recesses 38 function in conjunction with the protuberances 90' to position the finger portions 80 so that they are in alignment with the notches 18 thus providing a positive stop when the latching plate 78 is in the unlocked position for removal of the closure member 20 from the container 10.

To insert the closure member 20 in the container 10, the handle 42 :is rotated until the protuber-ances 90 are in the recesses 38 as previously described so that the finger portions 80 are in alignment with the lugs 36 on the body member 22. With the various parts in the positions described, the closure member 20 is inserted into After insertion, the handle 42 is rotated in a counterr clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 1, moving the protu-berances 90 from the recesses 38 to the recesses 40. With the protuberances 90 located in the recesses 40, the finger portions 80 of the locking plate 78 are out of alignment with the notches 18 and are disposed beneath the flange 16 of the container 10. After the protuberances 90 are located in the recesses 40, the handle 42 is pivoted relative to the shaft 48 and about the pivot pin 50 until the handle 42 is disposed in the recess 41 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. It should be pointed out that the engagement of the lugs 36 with the flange 16 prevents rotation of the body member 22 relative to the container 10 during rotation of the handle 42.

The pivotal movement of the handle 42 into the recess 41 moves the inner face 58 of the handle 42 into engagement with the body member 22 thus moving the shaft 48 and the shoulder 72 thereon relatively toward the body member 22. As such movement occurs, the shoulder 72 engages the O-ring seal 64 forming a fiuid-tight seal between the cylindrical portion 68 of the shaft 48 and the body member 22. Also, the locking plate 78 moves relatively toward the body member 22, bringing the finger portions 80 thereon into engagement withthe flange 16 to securely and tightly lock the closure member 28 to the container 10.

As the finger portions 80 engage the flange 16, the O-ring seal 30 tightly engages the sealing surface 14 of the closure member 10, forming a fluid-tight seal between the closure member 20 and the container 10. It can be seen in FIG. 1 that when the handle 42 is pivoted into the recess 41 no rotation of the handle 42 relative to the body member 22 can occur due to the complementary configurations of the recess 41 and the handle 42. Thus, the closure member 20 is securely locked to the container 10 in fluid-tight sealing relationship.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that the closure member described herein provides a means of safely venting positive pressure in the container 10 while the closure member 20 remains in a locked position. Also, the closure member 20 provides a means of venting the container 10 to the atmosphere should a low pressure exist therein whereby the closure member 20 can be removed therefrom.

Furthermore, the recesses 38 and 4t} and the protuberances 90 on the spring member 84 positively limit the rotational movement of the handle 42 between the locked and unlocked positions of the closure member 20. As may be appreciated from the foregoing description, little or no maintenance is required on the closure member 20 due to its simplicity of construction and the presence of relatively few moving parts. Also, the closure member 20 may be manufactured quickly, easily and economically by well known manufacturing procedures and apparatus.

Having described but a single embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the embodiment is presented by way of example only and that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the annexed claims.

What we claim is:

1. Closure means comprising:

a body member having first and second faces and including spaced lugs on said first face, radially spaced recesses in said first face, and a central bore extending therethrough and intersecting said faces;

a shaft movably disposed in said bore;

a locking plate operably connected with said shaft, said locking plate having radially extending finger portions thereon arranged to be aligned with said lugs;

a spring member operably connected with said shaft in engagement with said locking plate and the first face on said body member, said spring having protuberances thereon engaging said body member in said recesses to determine the rotational position of said spring member and locking plate relative to said body member; and

actuating means connected with said shaft adjacent said second face, said actuating means being rotatable with said shaft and pivotal relative thereto, said actuating means engaging said second face and, when in a first pivotal position, holding said locking plate away from said body member and, when in a second pivotal position, moving said locking plate relatively toward said body member.

2. The closure means of claim 1 and also including" a counterbore in said bore adjacent said first face;

a shoulder on said shaft facing said first face; and

an annular seal encircling said shaft and disposed in said counterbore, said seal engaging said shoulder when said locking plate is moved relatively toward said body member to form a fluid-tight seal between said body member and shaft.

3. The closure means of claim 1 wherein said actuating 10 means includes:

an operating handle having an end surface, a first face, a second face, and a bifurcated portion disposed on each side of said shaft and adjacent said end surface;

a pin extending through said bifurcated portion pivotally connecting said handle to said shaft, said pin being located closer to said end surface than to the first face on said handle whereby movement of said handle to the second pivotal position of said actuating means engages the first face of said handle with the second face of said body member to move said shaft and the attached locking plate toward said body member.

4. The closure means of claim 3 and also including a recess in the second face of said body member sized to receive said handle when said handle is in the second pivotal position whereby the second face of said handle is disposed in substantially the same plane as the unrecessed portion of the second face of said body member.

30 5. The closure means of claim 1 and also including:

a recessed portion in the second face of said body member;

a counterbore in said bore adjacent the first face of said body member;

a shoulder on said shaft facing the first face of said body member;

an annular seal encircling said shaft and disposed in said counterbore, said seal engaging said shoulder when said locking plate is moved relatively toward said body member to form a fluid-tight seal between said body member and shaft; and, wherein said actuating means includes an operating handle having an end surface,

a first face, a second face, and a bifurcated portion disposed on each side of said shaft adjacent said end surface, said handle being dispose in the recess in the second face of said body member with the second face thereon in substantially the same plane as the unrecessed portion of the second face of said body member when in the second pivotal position of said actuating means, and

a pin extending through said bifurcated portion pivotally connecting said handle to said shaft, said pin being located closer to said end surface than to the first face on said handle whereby movement of said handle to the second pivotal position of said actuating means engages the first face of said handle with the second face of said body member in said recessed portion to move said shaft and the attached locking plate toward said body member.

6. The closure means of claim 5 wherein member includes:

a central portion encircling said shaft and rotatable 65 therewith, said central portion engaging said locking plate;

a plurality of projecting portions extending radially outwardly from said central portion, said projecting portions extending relatively toward the first face of said body member and in engagement therewith, whereby said spring member constantly exerts a biasing force on said locking plate tending to move said locking plate relatively away from said body member; and,

said spring 7 8 a one of said protuberances being located on a respective jacent the second face of said body member for roone of said projecting portions and protruding theretating said shaft, locking plate, and spring member, from relatively toward the first face of said body said actuating means engaging said second face and, member. when in a first pivotal position, holding said locking 7. In combination, a container having an aperture in 5 plate away from said flangeand, when in a second a wall thereof, said aperture being encircled by a frustopivotal position, moving said, locking plate relatively conical sealing surface having an inwardly projecting antoward said body member and into engagement with nular flange on the innermost edge of said sealing surthe flange on said container. face, said flange having a plurality of spaced notches 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said removable therein, and a removable closure means comprising: 10 closure means also includes:

a body member having first and second faces and ina counterbore in said bore adjacent the first face on cluding said body member;

a frusto-conical outer periphery disposed in said a shoulder on said shaft facing the first face on said aperture adjacent said frusto-conical sealing survalve body; and, face, 5 an annular seal encircling said shaft and disposed in an annular, resilient seal disposed in an annular Said c nte ore, aid seal engaging said shoulder groove formed in aid outer eri h ry aid l when said actuating means is in the second pivotal sealingly engaging said fr too i l ealing position to form a fluid-tight seal between said shaft surface, and body member, and, when said actuating means spaced lugs on the first face of said body member 20 is in the first Pivotal1 Position, being movable along disposed i id n t h said shaft to permit fluid flow thereby into said contwo sets of radially spaced recesses in said first winerface, and 9. The combination of claim 7 wherein one of said sets a ntral bor t di th h id b d of recesses are located to position said lugs, notches, and ba a d i t ti id f 25 finger portions in alignment when said protuberances are a haft v bl di d i id b disposed therein; and, wherein said other set of recesses a locking plate operably connected to said shaft, said are located Position Said finger Portions out Of g locking plate having di ll extending finger ment with said notches and lugs when said protuberances tion sized to pass th h id notches d engageare disposed therein, whereby said closure means is alable with Said fl 0 ternately released from and connected to said container.

a spring member operably connected to said shaft in engagement with the first face of said body mern- References cued her and with said locking member and biasing said UNITED STATES PATENTS locking member relatively away from said body 2,839,215 6/1958 DePew 22025 member, said spring member having a plurality of 3,006,499 10/1961 Corbett 220-25 protuberances thereon disposed alternately in one of Said Sets of recesses. and THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

actuating means pivotally connected with said shaft ad- GEORGE T. HALL, Examiner. 

1. CLOSURE MEANS COMPRISING: A BODY MEMBER HAVING FIRST AND SECOND FACE AND INCLUDING SPACED LUGS ON SAID FIRST FACE, RADIALLY SPACED RECESSES IN SAID FIRST FACE, AND A CENTRAL BORE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH AND INTERSEETING SAID FACES; A SHAFT MOVABLY DISPOSED IN SAID BORE; A LOCKING PLATE OPERABLY CONNECTED WITH SAID SHAFT, SAID LOCKING PLATE HAVING RADIALLY EXTENDING FINGER PORTIONS THEREON ARRANGED TO BE ALIGNED WITH SAID LUGS; A SPRING MEMBER OPERABLY CONNECTED WITH SAID SHAFT IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LOCKING PLATE AND THE FIRST FACE ON SAID BODY MEMBER, SAID SPRING HAVING PROTUBERANCES THEREON ENGAGING SAID BODY MEMBER IN SAID RECESSES TO DETERMINE THE ROTATIONAL POSITION OF SAID SPRING MEMBER AND LOCKING PLATE RELATIVE TO SAID BODY MEMBER; AND ACTUATING MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID SHAFT ADJACENT SAID SECOND FACE, SAID ACTUATING MEANS BEING ROTATABLE WITH SAID SHAFT AND PIVOTAL RELATIVE THERETO, SAID ACTUATING MEANS ENGAGING SAID SECOND FACE AND, WHEN IN A FIRST PIVOTAL POSITION, HOLDING SAID LOCKING PLATE AWAY FROM SAID BODY MEMBER AND, WHEN IN A SECOND PIVOTAL POSITION, MOVING SAID LOCKING PLATE RELATIVELY TOWARD SAID BODY MEMBER. 